Iranian jerboa

Iranian jerboa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Dipodidae
Genus: Allactaga
Subgenus: Allactaga
Species: A. firouzi
Binomial name
Allactaga firouzi
Womochel, 1978

The Iranian jerboa (Allactaga firouzi) is a rodent of the family Dipodidae and subfamily Allactaginae.[2] They are characteristically known as hopping rodents and have only been found in a small population in Iran. Iranian jerboa are microhabitat specialist, they require a particular environment to provide them with specific conditions suitable for living.[3]

Physical appearance

Similar to the other jerboas in the genus Allactaga, the Iranian jerboa are small hopping rodents of desert regions and have large ears and a long tail. The tail assists and serves as support when the jerboa is standing upright.[4] They have long hind feet and short forelegs.[5] The forelimbs of the jerboa serve as a pair of hands for feeding, grooming, etc.[6]

Predation

Iranian jerboas were found on flat plains with a gravel and little vegetation. Low vegetation areas help them see predators more easily, allowing them to return to burrows quickly.[3] Similar to most jerboas, the Iranian Jerboa avoids brightly moonlit nights to decrease the chance of predation.

Phylogeny

Compared to other jerboas in the same genus, Iranian jerboas are most related to Allactaga hotsoni.[7]

Burrows/tunnels

It is a nocturnal[8][9] animal, spending the day in underground burrows. The Iranian Jerboas are one of the few jerboas that have different types of burrows. They make a different burrow in the summer and winter.[10] The winter burrows have deeper tunnels, for protection during hibernation from predators and harsh winters.[11]

Diet

This jerboa has a vegetarian diet of Anabasis and Peganum harmala.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Stuart, S.N. (2008). "Allactaga firouzi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  2. ↑ Holden, M. E. and G. G. Musser. 2005. Family Dipodidae. Pp. 871–893 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
  3. 1 2 3 Naderi, Gholamreza. "Investigation of Habitat Preferences of Iranian Jerboa." MammaliaWinter 75.2 (2011): 183. ArticleReach. Web. 15 Sept. 2013.
  4. ↑ Kirmiz, John P. Adaptation to Desert Environment; A Study on the Jerboa, Rat and Man. London: Butterworths, 1962. 17. Print.
  5. ↑ Lagassé, Paul. "Jerboa." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. New York: Columbia UP, 2000. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.
  6. ↑ Kirmiz, John P. Adaptation to Desert Environment; A Study on the Jerboa, Rat and Man. London: Butterworths, 1962. 29. Print.
  7. ↑ Dianat, Malahat. "Molecular Phylogeny of the Iranian Plateau Five-toed Jerboa, Allactaga (Dipodidea: Rodentia), Inferred from MtDNA." Mammalia Winter 77.1 (2012): 98. Print.
  8. ↑ Iranian Jerboa (Allactaga firouzi). Edgeofexistence.org (2006-08-09). Retrieved on 2012-12-29.
  9. ↑ Dipodidae – birch mice, jerboas, jumping mice. Wildlife Journal Junior. Nhptv.org. Retrieved on 2012-12-29.
  10. ↑ Ercüment, Colak. "Ecology and Biology of Allactaga Elater, Allactaga Euphratica and Allactaga Williamsi (Rodentia: Dipodidae) in Turkey." Tr. J. of Zoology (1996): 105.Tr. J. of Zoology. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. <http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/issues/zoo-98-22-2/zoo-22-2-3-97042.pdf>.
  11. ↑ Mohammadi, Saeed. "Burrow System of Iranian Jerboa (Allactaga Firouzi Womochel)." Acta Zoologica Mexicana 26.2 (2010): 457. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Sept. 2013.
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